Helping Your Physical Therapy Patients Identify the Side Effects Associated with Neurontin

As a physical therapist, it is quite likely that you will treat patients that have been prescribed Neurontin by their medical doctor.

If your patient has been prescribed Neurontin, it is important that you help them learn how to identify the side effects associated with this medication. This prescription drug is considered to be an anticonvulsant and it is issued to individuals that suffer from Epilepsy.

It is also used in individuals that suffer from nerve pain. Most commonly, individuals who suffer from the effects of the herpes virus, as well as Shingles, are issued this medication.

Doctor and Patient

Many doctors prescribe this medication for individuals that suffer from painful conditions such as lupus, fibromyalgia, diabetes, and even rheumatic conditions.

In this prescription medication guide, you will learn how to help your physical therapy patients go about identifying the side effects associated with Neurontin.

Prior to Use

Before taking Neurontin for a medical condition, it is essential that your patient informs their medical doctor if they suffer from a disease that affects a major organ – such as the heart and the liver.

If they suffer from a disease that affects the kidneys, it is also important that they inform their medical doctor immediately.

It is important to understand that this medication can have a negative impact on a person’s health if they suffer from diseases that affect the organs in the body.

In addition to this, if your patient is prone to suicidal thoughts and attempts, it is important to understand that several concluded and ongoing studies suggest that Neurontin can lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts. Many individuals have actually committed suicide while taking the prescription drug Neurontin.

It is also highly suggested that any medic alert bracelet that your patient wears has Neurontin listed as a medication that they are prescribed in case of health emergencies.

Physical Side Effects of Neurontin

When taking Neurontin, it is important for patients to know that one of the side effects associated with the prescription drug is that it affects a person’s reactions. Many even complain that the drug affects their vision in one way or another.

If your patient must be alert at work, while driving, or caring for young children – it is important they avoid taking Neurontin. It could result in slow reactions, confusion regarding appropriate responses, and difficulty seeing clearly.

If your patient has to take antacids as a result of gastrointestinal complications, it is important to hold off on taking this prescription medication within two hours of taking antacids. If they take Neurontin prior to this time period, they will find that it is not nearly as effective. This is because the body has a delayed response in absorbing the medication when in the bloodstream with antacids.

  • It is common to experience swelling in the body when taking Neurontin. This typically occurs in the area of the ankles as well as the feet.
  • Those that experience a reaction to this prescription drug may develop symptoms that reflect that of the flu. This includes running a mild to moderate temperature, experiencing the aches that are commonly associated with the flu, and other symptoms such as vomiting.
  • Neurontin takers may develop a tremor which is quite noticeable in the hands. It is very common for the eyes to involuntarily move rapidly from one side to the other.
  • Naturally, many individuals experience difficulty when it comes to coordination and may even experience weakness – which may or may not be accompanied by fatigue.
  • Blurred vision and even double vision may be a side effect experienced when taking Neurontin.
  • Many may experience gastrointestinal-related difficulties such as diarrhea and others may have constipation.
  • The mouth may become extremely dry and the sore may actually become sore and/or swollen.
  • Many may experience a headache that persists for the duration of the effect of this prescription drug.
  • There are some that will likely fall asleep quickly when taking this medication, and then there are many that will experience insomnia.

Those that take Hydrocodone, Naproxen, and Morphine may find that they experience adverse reactions because all of these medications actually react with Neurontin in a negative manner.

When prescribed Neurontin, it is essential that your physical therapy patient provides their medical doctor with a list of medications and supplements that they take to ensure that none interact with the medication.

neurontin pills

Behavioral Effects of Neurontin

When an individual takes Neurontin, it is quite likely that behavioral changes will occur.

  • This medication has been linked to the onset of depression as well as general anxiety.
  • Many may become hyperactive – this could be mental-based or physical-based. In many patients, aggressive behavior has been displayed. Examples include getting frustrated easily, feeling extremely restless to the point of anxiety development, and even experiencing suicidal thoughts.

If your patient is able to identify these side effects associated with Neurontin while taking the medication, it is absolutely imperative that medical assistance is sought.

While hurting others is not typically an issue when taking this prescription medication, there are pending claims that many have attempted suicide or succeeded in committing suicide are pending against the manufacturer of this drug, Pfizer Incorporated.

Identifying the side effects associated with Neurontin is essential if your patients take this prescription drug on a regular basis. As a physical therapist, if you are dealing with patients that experience detrimental side effects when taking Neurontin, you should encourage them to opt for your treatments and request that their medical doctor take them off of this potentially dangerous prescription medication – especially if they are taking it for a pain disorder and not for epilepsy.

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